Strange Relations

If Sonia Levitin hadn't been born to write, she might well have considered becoming a tightrope walker. She has always taken risks, balancing stories of pleasurable appeal with deeper messages reflecting commitment to truth and personal growth. In this book for teens, she successfully navigates a narrow path, taking on issues of tradition and conflicting values, introducing readers to a richly textured culture while giving them a heroine to whom they can truly relate. For five years, Marne, 15, watched her secular Jewish parents retreat into work and silence in the face of a terrible family loss. Given a chance to spend her summer with her mother's "odd" sister Carole in Hawaii, she envisions Paradise: long days on the beach, cute surfers, and even more fun when her friend Kim's hedonistic family flies in for a condo vacation nearby. However, immediately on arrival she discovers that Carole, now Aunt Chaya -- wife of a Hasidic rabbi, and mother of seven -- is an energetic, complex woman who takes great joy in her usefulness, her family and her community. Plunged into a chaotic but lively household, with little chance to laze around, Marne is confronted with challenges, annoyances, temptations, responsibilities and, ultimately, insights into her own nature. After Kim arrives, Marne sees her and her family through new eyes. Characters, plot and opposing lifestyles are well depicted against the exotic background of Oahu. Levitin has dexterously pulled together her recurrent themes of loss, courage, love, struggle against mindless conformity and the difficult search for personal integrity in a modern world, wrapping them in a novel that's contemporary, sensitive and believable. Ages 12 and up. Reviewed by Rita Frischer

Sonia Levitin's STRANGE RELATIONS tells of a summer in paradise in Hawaii with an aunt - but Marne realizes her Hawaii stay will be filled with challenges when she confronts a much-changed aunt and the foreign culture of a Chasidic rabbi. An outstanding story of romance and change evolves for older readers.

It seems like such a good idea. Marne knows that her mom's sister, Carole, lives in Hawaii, so she has only to convince her parents that she should go for a long overdue visit to her relatives. She'll run along the beach, maybe even surf and swim in the ocean. Best of all, her friend will also be visiting Hawaii, so there will be no end of fun. When her parents agree to Marne's plan, she knows she's in for the perfect summer in the paradise of the Hawaiian islands! It doesn't take long for Marne to realize that her summer may not be as flawless as she'd hoped. Her aunt, who now calls herself "Chaya" and her uncle, a rabbi, have seven children. Marne is kept busy chasing after sticky toddlers and running errands for her busy, controlling aunt. She doesn't mind helping out, but the religious world of her cousins is far different from the life she's used to back home in L.A. Although spending Friday nights at Shabbos dinners is a far cry from the fun-filled, tropical nights she'd envisioned, Marne finds herself strangely drawn to some of the peaceful rituals practiced by her relatives. But, how will this fit in with her old life? Will her best friend, Kim, think Marne's becoming weird? What about Jeff, the hunky surfer she met while jogging on the beach? Little by little, she's figuring out who her family is and who she herself wants to become. STRANGE RELATIONS is an enticing read for anyone interested in exploring different cultures and lifestyles. Marne is a wonderful guide, who gives a thorough glimpse of the life of Chasidic Jews, as seen by a modern teen. Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince